SHELBY COUNTY, Alabama – A former Calera man is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty in July to a murder charge in connection with the death of his 4-month-old infant son.

Tremaine Vanteas Gates, 26, pleaded guilty on July 10 to killing his infant son, Tremaine James Gates Jr., in Calera. Gates was sentenced the same day in Columbiana by Shelby County Circuit Judge Bill Bostick.

The charge alleged the father intentionally caused the baby's death between Aug. 25 and Sept. 11, 2012, by hitting the infant's head against a wall, a door or both.

Reports stated the father threw the child while supervising him on Aug. 25, 2012, in Calera. The mother the next morning found the child unable to open one eye and displaying other symptoms including being lethargic, according to court documents.

The mother transported the child to Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster and subsequently the infant went to Children's of Alabama where he died on Sept. 11, 2012.

Prosecutors with the Shelby County District Attorney's Office announced in December 2012 they were seeking the death penalty against Gates.

Gates had no prior adult felony convictions. The case previously included letters of support for Gates from a Chilton County High School counselor and another from a teacher at the institution he attended from 2002 to 2006.

Gates, who lists a Montgomery address in his court file, had been held without bond since the capital murder charge surfaced against him after the baby died.